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A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education holds up ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ as “an example of new thinking around alumni affairs” and highlights the university’s efforts to be “hands on and personal” with its young alumni. 

​ the article centers on steps ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ has taken in recent years to build stronger relationships and maintain connections with its newer graduates. In particular, it points to the creation three years ago of alumni-engagement officer positions now filled by Tricia Teter, Matthias Bouska and Conner Croxson. Each officer is responsible for a portfolio of 1,000 young alumni who were considered active in the life of the university while attending, the article notes.

From the article:

Of those 1,000 graduates in their portfolios, the AEOs have identified the 200 who are the most engaged and connected. The AEOs are expected to be up on the lives of those alumni. When Ms. Teter travels once a month for work, she schedules five meetings with young alumni each day for coffee and conversations about their lives and interests.

“They want to feel known and appreciated by their alma mater,” Ms. Teter says.

The article also highlights the history of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Day, a one-day event to encourage and celebrate small gifts to the university that is . Efforts such as ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Day have helped drive the university’s alumni-participation rate from 16 percent to 22 percent, with ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s most recent strategic plan setting the goal of hitting 32 percent. 

“This is a long play for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ,” Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, told The Chronicle. “We are making an investment here.”